96% of young drivers ‘priced off the road’

Ninety-six percent of young drivers feel they are being priced off the road by high motor premiums, according to a survey by the Transport Select Committee and young driver insurance scheme Young Marmalade.

The survey also found that 21% of young drivers have considered driving without insurance because of the high cost of premiums.

In addition, 30% of respondents considered altering the information they provide to insurers to get a lower quote. This included 15% who considered changing the main driver of the car.

The launch of the survey results today coincides with the re-opening of the Transport Select Committee’s inquiry into the cost of motor insurance.

According to the survey, 57% of young drivers are unaware that after an accident, insurance firms often pass personal details to a solicitor, car hire firm or garage in return for a referral fee.

“I am extremely concerned about these results, which show that young drivers think they are being priced off the road because of the high cost of motor insurance,” said Transport Select Committee chair Louise Ellman in a statement. “It is shocking that so many young drivers are considering breaking the law – by driving without insurance or changing the details they provide to insurers – in order to get a cheaper premium.”

Ellman added: “It’s revealing that most young drivers are also unaware that many insurers receive referral fees in order to deal with claims they make. This highlights why the Committee called for referral fees to be made more transparent in its report on the cost of motor insurance earlier this year.”

Ellman plans to put the results of the survey to ministers when they appear before the Transport Select Committee today.